Shrub rose plant named ‘AUSrover’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly by a tall, upright and almost thornless shrub; having quartered, rosette shaped blooms of a rich apricot color; and a strong complex fragrance of tea, myrrh and fruit.

Genus and species: Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘AUSrover’.

ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a shrub rose plant named ‘AUSrover’ which was originated by me by crossing an unnamed, unpatented seedling with an unnamed, unpatented seedling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a repeat flowering, very healthy rose plant with fragrant apricot blooms on a tall shrub.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirable improvements, as evidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics that are outstanding in the new variety and that distinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other varieties of which I am aware:

-   -   1. Quartered, rosette shaped blooms of a rich apricot color.     -   2. A tall, upright and almost thornless shrub.     -   3. A strong, complex fragrance of tea, myrrh and fruit.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding, as performed at Albrighton, England, shows that the foregoing and all other characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The seed parent has stiffer, more upright growth than ‘AUSrover’ which has a more rounded, bushy growth, and has more deeply cupped blooms than ‘AUSrover’. The pollen parent has shorter growth than ‘AUSrover’ with yellow cupped blooms compared to the apricot quartered, rosette-shaped blooms of ‘AUSrover’.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR VARIETY

‘AUSkeppy’ (not patented) has fewer petals per bloom than ‘AUSrover’ and the blooms are deeper apricot in color. ‘AUSrover’ has fewer prickles than ‘AUSkeppy’ and its petals have a more rounded apex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetative growth and flowers of this new variety in different stages of development, depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar with color descriptions using terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart (2001), except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated.

-   Parentage:     -   -   Seed parent.—Unnamed Seedling (Unpatented).         -   Pollen parent.—Unnamed Seedling (Unpatented).

FLOWER

Observations made from plants commencing at one year of age grown in a garden environment at Albrighton, England.

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant during the     growing season is profuse — there are too many to count. -   Bud:     -   -   Size.—About 2.5 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter when the             petals start to unfurl.         -   Form.—The bud form is pointed ovoid.         -   Color.—When sepals first divide, bud color is Yellow-Orange             Group 22A and Orange-Red Group N34A close to sepals and             base. When half blown, the upper sides of the petals are             Yellow-Orange Group 23C top half of petal, Yellow Group 12B             basal half, and the lower sides of the petals are             Yellow-Orange Group 23C top half of petal, and Yellow Group             12B basal half.         -   Sepals.—Color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Lower             surface: Yellow-Green Group N144C. Length: 2.7 cm. Width:             1.0 cm. Shape: Subulate. Surface texture: Upper surface:             Pubescent. Lower surface: Rough, some glands. There are             three lightly appendaged sepals. There are two unappendaged             sepals with canescent edges.         -   Receptacle.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Shape:             Campanulate. Size: Medium, about 0.9 cm long×0.9 cm wide.             Surface: Smooth.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium, averaging about 4-5 cm. Surface:             Very glandular. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Strength:             Normal. -   Bloom:     -   -   Size.—Large. Average open diameter is about 9.3 cm.         -   Borne.—In irregular compound corymb clusters of four to five             blooms.         -   Form.—When first open: Cupped. Permanence: Outer petals curl             back.         -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 100.         -   Color.—The upper sides of the outer and middle petals are             Yellow-Orange Group 14D top half, Yellow Group 12B basal             half. The upper sides of the inner petals are Yellow-Orange             Group 22D top half and Yellow Group 12A basal half. The             reverse sides of the outer and middle petals are             Yellow-Orange Group 14D top half, Yellow Group 12B basal             half. The inner petals are Yellow-Orange Group 20B top half             and Yellow Group 12A basal half.         -   Variegations.—None.         -   Discoloration.—The general tonality at the end of the first             day is Yellow-Orange Group 14D. At the end of the third day:             Yellow Group 13D and 12B.         -   Fragrance.—Strong tea, myrrh and fruit. -   Petals:     -   -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Size.—Width: 1.9 cm. Length: 3.6 cm.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Shape.—Obovate. Margin: Notched. Apex Shape: Some obcordate,             some obtuse. Base Shape: Cuneate. Form: Incurved, tips             recurved and all very outer petals recurved.         -   Arrangement.—Quartered.         -   Petaloids.—Number: None.         -   Persistence.—Petals drop off cleanly before drying.         -   Lastingness.—On the plant: Fair (about 4 days). As a cut             flower: Fair (about 4 days). -   Reproductive parts:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 10-15. Length: 5 mm. Anthers: Length: 2 mm.             Color: Yellow Group 13A. Arrangement: Regular around styles.             Filaments: Color: Yellow Group 8B. Length: 3 mm. Pollen:             Color: Yellow Group 13A.         -   Pistils.—Number: 65-70. Length: 11 mm. Styles: Color: Yellow             Group 8C. Length: 10 mm. Stigmas: Color: Yellow Group 11A.             Length: 1 mm.         -   Hips.—None observed.

PLANT

-   -   -   Form.—Shrub.         -   Growth.—Medium vigor, bushy.         -   Age at maturity.—Two years.         -   Mature plant.—Height: 1.2 mm. Width: 1.0 m.         -   Rootstock.—‘Dr. Huey’ in the USA Rosa dumetorum ‘Laxa’ for             the observed plants in the U.K.

-   Foliage: Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves: 5-7     (including terminal leaflet).     -   -   Size.—Medium. About 15.9 cm long×11.5 cm wide.         -   Quantity.—Normal. Average number leaves per flowering stem:             7.         -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: Yellow-Green Group 152A with             Greyed-Purple Group 185A concentrated around margin. Lower             side: Greyed-Purple Group 185A. Old foliage: Upper side:             Green Group 139A. Lower side: Yellow-Green Group 147B.

-   Leaflets:     -   -   Size.—About 6 cm long×4.8 cm wide.         -   Shape.—Broadly oval.         -   Base shape.—Rounded.         -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.         -   Texture.—Smooth, dull/matt.         -   Edge.—Serrated.         -   Serrations.—Mainly large single.         -   Petiole.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Length: 4.5-5.5 cm.             Width: 2 mm. Surface texture: Smooth, with prickles on             underside.         -   Petiole rachis.—Color: Yellow-Green Group N144D. Underside:             With prickles.         -   Stipules.—Length: 2 cm, glandular. Color: Green Group 143B.         -   Auricle shape.—Subulate. Length: 1 cm. Width: 2 mm at the             base, tapering to a point. Color: Green Group 143B.         -   Disease resistance.—Resistant to powdery and downy mildew,             blackspot and rust in normal growing conditions.         -   Pest resistance.—Not tested.         -   Vein color.—Yellow-Green Group N144D.         -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.

-   Wood:     -   -   New wood.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 146C. Bark: Smooth.         -   Old wood.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 146A. Bark: Smooth.

-   Stems:     -   -   Strength.—Normal.         -   Mature stem.—Length: 40 cm. Diameter: 5 mm.         -   Internode distance.—7-8 cm. The above measurements are all             variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.

-   Prickles:     -   -   Quantity.—On main canes from base: Few, 2 per 10 cm stem             length. On laterals from main cases: Few, 2 per 30 cm per             stem length.         -   Form.—Concave curved inward.         -   Length.—6 mm.         -   Color when young.—Red Group 47A.         -   Color when mature.—Greyed-Yellow Group 161B.

-   Small prickles:     -   -   Quantity.—On main stalks: None. On laterals: None.

-   Winter hardiness: Not tested. 

1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly by a tall, upright and almost thornless shrub; having quartered, rosetted shaped blooms of a rich apricot color; and a strong complex fragrance of tea, myrrh and fruit. 